@Becca it should be enough but you can't control that. Maybe go to the border and get an I-94 card in advance of flying?

This is my first travel with the waiver and it’s for a work event with work people so I’m hoping there are no issues. We have 2 hour stop over in Toronto. Is this long enough ? What will they do in secondary ? What do I need to bring ? Just passport and letter?

@Adelaide

This is what is SUPPOSED to happen.

The first time you use your waiver you are taken into secondary. Then left alone for 6 months. The next time you travel AFTER 6 months, they take you into secondary again. Its to check CPIC and also authenticate the waiver is real. Also, if you enter in may 2019 and they don't hear from you again until may 2022, they may check to see if Canada has a record of you re-entering.

I am sure people will tell experiences of things that did not happen exactly like this, but this is technically how it is supposed to work.

#33

@John Rogers

I'm hoping to get a waiver later this year (as I mentioned it's 90% sure I'll be coming to you to get this done - I have an overstay and that's all).

Just to clarify - does a person get dragged into secondary with a waiver no matter what? ...And in secondary are they trying to "catch you" on something else or is it more of just a formality?

If you go to the land border and get the I-194 card BEFORE you fly are you still put into secondary when you fly?

@Hercdoc or simply go to the airport without your companions.

I guess for me I'm lucky. Anyone I would travel with including work / professional friends know my circumstances so it's a non issue.

@Herdoc I would go to the border by land if possible before your travel and get an I-194 Card. This will help you NOT be dragged into secondary when you fly.

@Becca You travel as per normal EXCEPT you show the waiver. The first time you use it its very possible you will be pulled into secondary.

When travelling to USA via air do you get in the ‘visa’ line up at customs or go to the keyask? First time travelling with a 5 year waiver and I’m freaking out ! What can I expect ? please tell me the process

I am travelling for first time on a waiver, crossing by air travel into U.S from calgary from connecting flights. I am stressed to the max as I am a professional travelling with colleagues and am trying to reduce and embarrassment if I am pulled into secondary. Is there anything I can do to expedite/mitigate any issues. Ie: go to a border crossing by land to get a 6 month pass first? I am also trying to ensure I dont miss my connecting flight.

In Calgary and Edmonton i handed them my passport and waiver they breifly looked at it and let me no hassel

@WaiveMeIn

They stamp it every time now regardless of how old the previous one was. I think the date is more important for the land crossing since they don't need to send you in for secondary where as now they do everything at the first agent without having to go to secondary. I figure if I crossed by land with the stamp from YVR I wouldn't have to go in if it was within the 6 month window. Overall the experience has been much less anxiety inducing than it used to be other than some really scrutinize the waiver although I'm sure people try to cross with fake ones. I don't understand why they just don't add something linked to our profiles so they know an active waiver is on file and then you wouldn't even need to carry that letter and potentially lose it.

@PJ

I never went through the preclearance at YVR, as I did most of my flying from YYZ, but I'm glad to hear you hardly ever got called to secondary.

If you don't mind me asking, did you get six months each time they stamped you, and did you get stamped everytime, or only when your previous stamp had expired?

I'm curious because, I kept getting new stamp for six months each time, even though the old stamps were not yet expired.

@John Rogers

It does seem kind of random. At one time, they even made me do fingerprint. And each time I got a stamp, the stamp was good for six months for each visit (new electronic I-94 each time), even though I ended up staying at most only a week.

@Adelaide

They took me to secondary, but I was fortunate enough not to encounter much problem with their questioning, and they never asked me for my phone/computer I had with me, only asked basic stuff like who was I visiting, how long would I stay, etc.

I haven't had to go into secondary at pre-clearance, at least at YVR, in over 3 years now at least, only when I cross by land do I have to park and go in to get a card for 6 months. I was told not to use the automated kiosks at YVR and to use the "visa" line is all. I get asked the purpose of my trip (usually business), how long and why do I do for work. Then I usually get a stamp and I'm on my way after they inspect my waiver. It would be great to be able to use the kiosks as to speed things up as at least at YVR, Nexus users get priority and seem to make the lone go slower. Overall I'd say it's much more relaxed then I remember it being.

#22 @WaiveMein

Out of curiosity when you went through secondary all those times how long did they hold you up and did they go through your electronic devices as well?

@WaiveMein

1st inspection i would have assumed an I-94 card for sure.

And since it is all in 6 months, there is no reason for all these secondary inspections.

It just goes to show, that even Homeland Security isn't always sure. The point of the 6 months is that you are not supposed to go through a secondary inspection again. (for 6 months) Your proof that the "system" doesn't always work the way it is supposed to.

Ever since I got my waiver late June, I've entered the US four times:

1st visit: Rainbow Bridge, secondary inspection, no stamp, no I-94 card

2nd visit: Toronto airport, secondary inspection, I-94 stamp for six months

3rd visit: Toronto airport, secondary inspection + fingerprint, another I-94 stamp also for six months from day of entry

4th visit: Toronto airport, NO secondary inspection, no fingerprint, yet another I-94 stamp for six months from day of entry

I wonder now what exactly triggerred issuance of new I-94 everytime I cleared CBP at the airport, and also what exactly got me pulled to secondary. It just seems to be completely random.

The last visit was encouraging though since I didn't get called to secondary, though I had to show my return ticket.

What's also interesting is that, everytime I entered through airport, they always gave me a new stamp, each for six months after entry (though at this rate, my passport would be full of US stamps if I keep visiting through airport).

It would be interesting to see how my next visit through land border would be like.

Well, technically they can issue the I-94 for whatever time period they choose...However, they do tend to give them for 6 months but it is no guarantee. This individual that only got the 2 day I-94 is one of our V.I.P clients as he has 9 pages of criminal offences for certain things. He told me the border guard looked in the computer and looked his name up and suddenly got really stern with him because of what was in the system. The guard was trying to tempt him into a verbal fight so that he could get his waiver revoked. Luckily, he did not fall for it and the next day got a much nicer officer. So they do treat people differently depending on the person and the officer.

The point is that some of these officers can be cowboys(at least in BC) and we have to also take this into account when we give people their packets and send them to the border.

Another example is that the Sumas Border is the worse one in the lower mainland and there they have a habit of really grilling people and sometimes will try to find a reason to revoke a valid waiver. Apparently, it is a training border and the new guys try to make a good impression on management.

@Ken Scott

I can't comment on the border where you are. Here in the east Waiver holders are getting 6 months cards when they travel by land every time.

Now, if you are NOT a waiver holder, and they are using the card for its intended purpose, a departure record (making sure you come back when you say you will) then it makes sense it will vary in time.

Since for waiver holders its being used specifically to make sure the person is given a secondary inspection every 6 months, why would they put any other time period on it?

Again, I am only referring to Waiver holders.

It is not really an absolute that they will give the I-94 card every 6 months(Land). It actually depends on the admitting officer. Some officers have given our people an I-94f or only 2 months. One client even got it for one day only. They can issue them for up to 6 months though but it is with officer approval/discretion only. The mood of the officer can also play a role but ideally yes a person can get it for 6 months....but it is no 100% absolute guarantee.

@travel_lover I am not sure if that is a question or comment.

Basically (you will find this on past threads too so I will keep it short)
You get the card by LAND only every 6 months.
No card if by air but you get a secondary every every 6 months. Waiver holders only.